THE COUNTRY OF ASHANTI

Ghana

Departure: AccraArrival: Accra   

 Departures every month, on Monday, in occasion of the Akwasidae Festival of Ashanti
 Departures granted for minimum 2 participants

Category: Special Trip

• 8 days in Ghana
• overnights in hotels

 

One week completely dedicated to a country which is full of interesting evidences of the portoguese colonization and offers extraordinary occasions to plunge in the folklore of his populations, especialyy the Akwasidae festival of Ashanti in Kumasi.

The people of Ghana are famous for their overwhelming tradition of hospitality. Meeting and getting to know the people is a priority on this tour. Everywhere: smiling people, friendly exclamations, festivals, dances!

Even funerals here are celebrated with great festivity. Hundreds of people dressed in glorious traditional costumes in black and red, celebrate the passage of the deceased to the world of their ancestors.

We will also visit particular sites which are rich in history and which today continue to vibrate with life and culture. On the coast there are many old castles and forts and it was here where the Europeans first began to discover Black Africa. Elmina castle is the oldest on the entire continent. Seamen, adventurers, traders in gold and slaves: all passed through here…

At Kumasi, the Ashanti King lives surrounded by his court. Founded in the 17th century, the Ashanti Kingdom still plays a key role amongst people.

In certain days of the year the Ashanti celebrate at the Royal Palace a big ceremony called Akwasidae. During the celebration the King is seated under a spectacular umbrella of colorful, draped cloth, adorned with massive gold jewelry (the Ashanti gold jewelry and masks are considered masterpieces of African art). In front of the King, a narrow passage is formed, made up of dignitaries with various functions: ritual sword bearers, guards armed with muskets, knife bearers responsible for carrying out executions, carriers of beautiful fans made of ostrich feathers.

Seated at the side of the King are the Ashanti elders and the advisors under the authority of the Royal Speaker, who holds in his hands the symbols of power covered in gold. The ceremony is made up of a procession of the royal court attendants who bring forth gifts, storytellers who recite the history of the Ashanti Kings, drummers, and trumpeters playing horns of ivory. Corpulent dancers dressed in vivid, red costumes, perform an erotic dance. The queen mother then joins the ceremony accompanied by her attendants.

We will leave Ghana after visiting Accra, the large, peaceful capital of the country. It is an African city which, even though it has undergone some rapid development in recent years, has managed to retain its sense of identity – an identity that is reflected in both the old and the newer areas where the customs and traditions of the people continue to thrive as before.

Groupe of minimum 8 participants: 1.090 euro each person in double room

Groupe of 6-7 participants: 1.170 euro each person

Groupe of 4-5 participants: 1.220 euro each person

Groupe of 3 participants: 1.320 euro each person

Groupe of 2 participants: 1.680 euro each person

Supplement single room 230 euro.

Full board from the breakfast of the second day till the lunch of the last day

The prices don't include the international flight from and to the country of origin

For more informations: transafrica@transafrica.biz